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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ocklawaha man arrested after allegedly attacking two men with stick

A 41-year-old Ocklawaha man was arrested by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office after he was accused of attacking two men with a stick.

On Monday, shortly before 8:15 a.m., an MCSO deputy responded to the 11800 block of SE Highway 464 in Ocklawaha in reference to a battery in progress. Upon arrival, the deputy observed the first victim who was holding Joshua Daniel Perez on the ground, according to the MCSO report.

Joshua Daniel Perez
Joshua Daniel Perez

Perez was detained in handcuffs and the deputy observed that he had a swollen left eye with a small laceration below it.

The deputy made contact with the first victim who advised that he had arrived at the incident location to pick up his work vehicle and an employee. The first victim stated that Perez arrived at the location on a bicycle and was holding a wooden stick in his hand.

According to the first victim, Perez requested a ride to another individual’s home. The first victim told Perez that he was not going to take Perez anywhere or be involved in anything that he was doing.

A verbal argument ensured between the first victim and Perez, and the first victim stated that Perez got off the bicycle and began striking him with the stick. According to the first victim, he was struck on the left arm, on both sides of his ribs, and on his head.

The first victim advised that he brought Perez to the ground and attempted to hold him in place while law enforcement was being contacted. The deputy noted in the MCSO report that the first victim had injuries on his left forearm and red marks on both sides of his ribs.

The deputy also observed a wooden stick nearby that was approximately three feet in length and two to three inches in diameter. Both victims confirmed that this was the stick that Perez used during the physical altercation.

The deputy made contact with the second victim who advised that he is an employee of the first victim. According to the second victim, he was checking the fluids on the work vehicle when he observed Perez striking the first victim with the stick.

The second victim advised that he attempted to intervene, and Perez struck him on the back of the head with the stick. The deputy observed a small laceration on the back of the second victim’s head and a small amount of blood on his hair.

The deputy made contact with Perez. After being read his Miranda rights, Perez refused to discuss the incident.

Perez was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail. While at the jail, Perez pulled out two bags from the left front pocket of his pants: a clear Ziploc bag containing a green leafy substance that field-tested positive for marijuana and a small clear baggie containing a white powder that field-tested positive for cocaine, according to the MCSO report. He told the deputy that he had forgotten that the bags were in his pocket.

Perez was later released from the jail on $15,000 bond. He is facing felony charges for aggravated battery (two counts), possession of cocaine, and possession of a controlled substance at a detention facility, along with a misdemeanor charge for possession of marijuana (less than 20 grams).

A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.